Honours were shared by young and old in the 2017 Jim Sawkins Classic. Grant Bluett, one of the oldest competitors on the Red 1 course won Division 1 on age/gender handicap and Zoe Melhuish among the youngest on the Red 2 and 3 courses won Division 2 on age/gender handicap.
The 10th Jim Sawkins Classic was held on Sunday 4 June 2017 to commemorate the life and death of Red Roos and OACT stalwart Jim Sawkins at Goorooyaroo on Sunday 4 June 2006. The Classic started as a low key event on Sunday 6 July 2008 and the ‘rules’ for the event have been gradually refined to increase its status. The Red Roos are now in a position to establish firm rules for the Classic.
Just on 100 competitors faced the Starter, with four courses having Mass starts, two with optional Mass starts on a single course and two courses with normal starts. Red 3 course with 40 starters attracted the largest field. Course planner Mark Gregson prepared challenging courses which required competitors on the Red and Orange courses to observe careful navigation and to check their control numbers; some of whom did not and they paid the price.
The links to results, splits and related competitions are:
- Results
- Winsplits
- Jim Sawkins Classic Handicap results
- Standings in the ACT League after event 5
- Maps and photos from the event. More photos here.
The next ACT League event will be at Kowen East on Sunday 23 July.
The Jim Sawkins Classic capped off a great weekend of Orienteering in the ACT with the Saturday Metro event at Black Mountain attracting a record number of entries, 254, and a record number of participants, 298, for a metropolitan event. The courses prepared by junior, Brendan Wilson, attracted praise from many competitors. The results and related items are:
The next Saturday Metro event will be at Commonwealth Park on Saturday 17 June.